Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Big 12 Outdoor Championships
Okafor Wins Big 12 Shot Put Title
May 14, 2011 | Track and Field
May 14, 2011
NORMAN, Okla. - Texas Tech sophomore Ifeatu Okafor won Tech's first Big 12 title of the weekend at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships throwing a school record in the women's shot put.
"The highlight of the day was Big 12 Champion Ifeatu Okafor with a school record throw," head coach Wes Kittley said. "It was the most consistent meet I have seen from her and I was real proud for her. I was really pleased with Devin's (Bailey) time in the 800M as well. On the men's side, I was happy with how we qualified and I think we are where we need to be for tomorrow. "
Sophomore Ifeatu Okafor won Tech's first Big 12 title of the meet in impressive fashion. Okafor took the lead on her second throw with a mark of 58'-3.75" (17.77M) and never looked back. The throw breaks Patience Knight's record set in 2008 and it is the third-best throw in Big 12 Championship history. She now sits ranked No. 2 in the NCAA.
Teammate Kelly Closse placed fifth with a throw of 52'-7.50" (16.04M) in the shot put to pick up four points in the team race.
Kyal Meyers scored 8 big points for the Red Raiders in the men's pole vault. The freshman cleared 17'-3.25" (5.28M) to place second and earn his second all-conference honor. Boston Spiva placed ninth with his mark of 16'-4" (4.98M).
The Texas Tech's hurdle crew put a total of seven men and women in the finals of the short hurdles and two in the 400M hurdles.
The Lady Raiders started the trend with Katie Grimes, Jamie Simanek and Kelsey Lloyd all advancing to the final in the 100M hurdles. Grimes' was the fifth-fastest qualifier at 13.42. Simanek was the eighth qualifier at 13.92 and Lloyd was ninth running a 13.92.
The men had the most entries in the 110M hurdles with five and followed it up with the most in the final with four. Brandon Tucker had the second-fastest time of 13.70 to qualify. Omo Osaghae qualified with a 13.90 followed by teammates Jamele Mason in a 13.92 and Shane Brathwaite in a 14.04.
Mason and Bryce Brown continued the hurdle crew's good day in the 400M hurdles. The duo had the two fastest qualifying times at 49.94 and 50.07, respectively. Tech almost added a third with Shane Brathwaite but he was 10th with a 51.92.
Bryce Lamb earned all-conference honors for placing sixth in the men's long jump with a mark of 25'-6.25" (7.78M). Marquis Goodwin defended his title from a year ago jumping 26'-9.75" (8.17M).
The Lady Raiders had Caroline Jepleting run the fastest preliminary time in the 1500M of 4:24.45 to pace the field and make the final.
Candace Jackson advance to the 400M final with a time of 53.83. She was the fifth qualifier. On the men's side Tech put two into the final. Gil Roberts ran a 45.62, the second-fastest time in preliminaries, to win his heat and make the final. Zach Plinario was the final qualifier crossing the line in 47.07.
It took a personal-best time from Devin Bailey to advance to the 800M final. The junior ran a 2:06.91, the second-fastest of the preliminaries, to make the final.
Nick Tam placed 10th in the men's high jump with a clearance of 6'-7" (2.01M).
Chuck Zavala finished the men's decathlon in 10th place with 6,678 points.
A correction to yesterday's release, Casey Felton placed 13th instead of 15th in the men's javelin.
After the second day of competition the Lady Raiders are in fifth place with 14 points and the Red Raiders sit in ninth with 11 points. Nebraska leads the women's side with 62 points and Texas is tops in the men's race with 54 points.
Tech will start competing tomorrow at 2 p.m. with the men's discus. Running finals will start at 5:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
